Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams — at age 33 one of his generation's most acclaimed (and volatile) musicians — performs at Overture Hall tonight after earning rave reviews for the first few shows on a fall tour with his band the Cardinals.

That's very good news. After two weeks on the road, Adams and his bandmates appear ready to stake their claim as one of the most potent live acts.

Almost exactly one year ago, that didn't seem likely. Performing at Minneapolis' State Theatre, Adams spent much of the show complaining about the stage's sound monitors. He's experienced other ragged shows over his career — including his infamous outbursts to mocking references from any concertgoer calling him Bryan Adams a few years ago — but that seems behind him.

For much of his career, Adams struggled with sobriety and, obviously, had a quick fuse in concert. Despite those obstacles, he released a sizable amount of work, starting with alt-country band Whiskeytown and, later, as a solo artist who jumped genres.

Now he's happy to be part — granted, a significant part — of a band. His shows no longer tout him as a solo artist, but are billed as the Cardinals featuring Adams.

Judging by numerous newspaper reviews from his tour's start, all the pieces are coming together in terrific fashion. In Syracuse, N.Y., the Cardinals "rocked the joint." In Rochester, N.Y., the show was "marvelous, with Adams' superb, heartfelt tenor working wonders." And in Boston, one critic marveled about the Cardinals as "a luminous, versatile unit — on a par with Crazy Horse, the Heartbreakers and the Band."

The Cardinals' show at Overture Hall begins at 8:30 p.m., an unusual start time, but the group has not been using an opening act. Instead, other shows on the tour have featured two sets with an intermission. Setlists have concentrated on the Cardinals' three years together and included a taste of the group's new album, "Cardinology," out on Oct. 28. The Cardinals also have been playing the Adams-penned "When the Stars Go Blue," which Tim McGraw turned into a country hit, and Adams' cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall."

Oasis' Noel Gallagher told Spin magazine in its current issue that he likes Adams' version better than Oasis'. And the Cardinals will resume their spot as Oasis' opening act in American arenas in December.

Tickets are available through www.overturecenter.com or call Overture Center's box office at 258-4141.

Song for Madison

Hey, let's applaud Norwegian new-age pianist Ola Gjeilo. The New York resident's new album, "Stone Rose," includes a lovely instrumental called "Madison." He calls the tune "a tribute to a beautiful Christmas holiday spent near Madison." (We'll assume he spent some time actually in Madison.)

Gjeilo is one of the rising stars in new-age music and his compositions have been popular for many other artists.

Looking way ahead

Odd press release of the week comes from Paramount Pictures telling us that "Iron Man 2,'' originally scheduled for April 30, 2010, "will now be released on May 7, 2010."

You'll be reminded in 20 months.

Return each Sunday to A&E for more news and opinion by Tom Alesia, talesia@madison.com. Until then, go to www.madison.com/wsj/home/entertainment for more local entertainment and Madison's most complete guide to upcoming shows in Coming Attractions.